The Death of Marcus Aurelius

The Death of Marcus Aurelius

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 53


No, young man, for heaven's sake, but once you have heard these words, go home and say to yourself:

"It is not Epictetus that has told me these things; how indeed should he? No, it is some gracious God through him. Else it would never have entered his head to tell me them, he that is not used to speak to anyone thus. Well, then, let us not lie under the wrath of God, but be obedient unto Him."

No, indeed. But if a raven by its croaking bears you any sign, it is not the raven, but God that sends the sign through the raven. 

And if He signifies anything to you through human voice, will He not cause the man to say these words to you to, that you may know the power of the Divine—how He sends a sign to some in one way and to others in another, and on the greatest and highest matters of all signifies His will through the noblest messenger? 

What else does the poet mean:
  
I spake unto him once Myself, and sent  
Hermes the shining One, to check and warn him, 
The husband not to slay, nor woo the wife!
 

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